Alcove Cafe & Bakery

(323) 644-0100

1929 Hillhurst Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90027 34.1063 -118.2877

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Neighborhoods: Los Feliz, Central LA

ALCOVECAFE.COM

Hours:

Mon-Sat 6am-11pm

Sunday 7am-11pm

Price:

$

Last updated 6.04.11

Category:

Restaurants, Bakeries

Payment Methods:

Visa, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

People Watching, Lunch Spot, Celeb Hangout, Outdoor Dining, Hidden Find

Cuisine:

Traditional American

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Alcove Cafe & Bakery

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

In Short – Inside the quaint brick bungalow, the feel is definitely European bistro--murals, marble tabletops and display cases teem with gorgeous cakes (of the layer, bundt and cheese variety), pies, tarts, cookies and cupcakes. Patrons line up to order at the counter before the somewhat daunting task of scouting out a coveted outside table. On weekends, the breakfast and lunch lines snake down the brick walkway through the lovely umbrella-shaded patio, where young, attractive Eastsiders wash down breakfast burritos, omelettes and smoked salmon scrambles with make-your-own mimosas. At…

Editor's Tips

The Extras:
The pastry menu includes such specialties as amarena cherry almond cake, German chocolate cake and lemon coconut cake.
Parking:
Valet parking is available behind Alcove for $3.50..
The Extras:
Pooches are welcome--and frequently part of the scene--on Alcove's dog-friendly patio.
Know Before You Go:
Snagging a table can be a bit of a sport on weekends. Your best bet is to send someone in your party to scout out a spot while the others wait to order. Don't forget about the tables on either side of the bungalow.
ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. “Romantic, cozy, blissful pastries”
  2. “Not only is the ambience charming, but this is quite possibly the best all around cafe this side of town.”
  3. “This small cafe has a terrific ambiance, and the outside seating is wonderful during a warm day.”
  4. “went there on a Saturday morning, it was a sunny day and we sat on the cozy patio.”
  5. “Awesome atmosphere!”
  6. “friendly atmosphere, super good sandwiches, and to die for cakes!”
  7. “The Alcove has a very charming, cozy, relaxing-get-away-from-bustle-of-LA atmosphere.”
  8. “Ambience is great, very cozy, and most importantly, VERY DOG FRIENDLY!”
  9. “Expect Los Feliz prices - a sandwhich and a drink plus a counter girl tip will run you 10 - 12 bucks - but the charming cafe atmosphere and romantic patio make this an must-try lunch spot.”
  10. “Decent food, oppressive atmosphere”
  11. “take all my friends there and they are all impressed at the cozy atmosphere the cafe provides.”
  12. “The restaurant was quite good, and the atmosphere was cute, though the process of waiting in line and then waiting for food was not quick.”
  13. “Delightful cozy cottage feel with brick pathways, multiple patios, and arched doors, surrounded by twinkling lights.”
  14. “The food is fresh, the prices are reasonable, and the ambience is very relaxing.”
  15. “Great hidden find, Charming atmosphere, Delicious food,”
  16. “The ambiance is perfect - the Alcove is more of a dining room to me & my family of friends than my own dining room, inside or out!”
  17. “My friends and I were visiting from London, and overall loved the food and atmosphere.”
dessert
96.87999725341797% positive
  1. “Great sandwiches, soups, and (of course) desserts!”
  2. “So order your birthday/special cake here, get a slice of something sweet, and if you can find a seat, hang out.”
  3. “Sure, the desserts are expensive, but it's worth the price with every rich bite!”
  4. “Waiting for your drink/dessert/pastry crouched in a corner while other customers try to order their food is a hassle and seemingly something they could organize better.”
  5. “Alcove makes good food, but their speciality is desserts.”
  6. “However, today I went not for dessert, but for something off their rather extensive savory food menu.”
  7. “Good savory food, lackluster dessert.”
  8. “What made up for it was the dessert - we sampled the raspberry cheesecake - not too sweet & quite yummy, the strawberry shortcake was light and just right, the lemon tart with berries was delicious.”
  9. “love the Alcove for it's intimate patio setting and amazingly delicious desserts.”
  10. “Their food is solid - breakfast seems best to me though people swear by the tuna salad and the chocolate cupcake with white icing - but the combination of waiting in line, jockeying for a table and then waiting ages for your food to show up is maddening.”
  11. “like this place because its in great neighborhood and I can eat well , good food healthy ,but also indulge in great deserts and go there after my yoga class @ Karuna ,or before meditation @ the White Lotus.”
  12. “Portions are almost too big - the Cobb Salad is easily enough for two and cake slices are large enough to send you into diabetic shock.”
  13. “As far as desserts go, there blue velvet cupcakes are to die for and the chai latte is nice and creamy and rich with spices.”
  14. “their fig cakes are delicious too!”
  15. “Great desserts and great brunch spot.”
  16. “friendly atmosphere, super good sandwiches, and to die for cakes!”
drinks
100.0% positive
  1. “Great coffee.”
  2. “They have a wine and cheese store next door that makes you feel like you are in a wine country and the very open outdoor patio is a great place to catch up with friends, unwind, or have some alone time---all with a good glass of wine (or cup of latte).”
  3. “Expect Los Feliz prices - a sandwhich and a drink plus a counter girl tip will run you 10 - 12 bucks - but the charming cafe atmosphere and romantic patio make this an must-try lunch spot.”
  4. “Waiting for your drink/dessert/pastry crouched in a corner while other customers try to order their food is a hassle and seemingly something they could organize better.”
  5. “It's a great place for friends to sit and enjoy a meal or just a cup of coffee.”
  6. “you can enjoy your coffee and actually read the paper.”
  7. “The staff was very friendly, attentive and filled up our coffee mugs on every occasion.”
food quality
92.67999649047852% positive
  1. “great food”
  2. “love the Alcove for it's intimate patio setting and amazingly delicious desserts.”
  3. “The portions are HUGE & the amount of fresh fruit you get w/the plate was overwhelming, berries literally falling off plate.”
  4. “great variety of food for all types of people and the portions are very well served.”
  5. “The restaurant was quite good, and the atmosphere was cute, though the process of waiting in line and then waiting for food was not quick.”
  6. “Great sandwiches, soups, and (of course) desserts!”
  7. “Their food is great, breakfast, lunch or dinner.”
  8. “It's hard to find a restaurant with an extensive menu and have it all be consistently delicious - but from a salmon breakfast plate, to a turkey and hummus melt, to a steak salad.”
  9. “Did you ever consider that the Alcove serves fresh, organic spinach?”
  10. “Alcove makes good food, but their speciality is desserts.”
  11. “Alcove Cafe & Bakery is delicious!”
  12. “their fig cakes are delicious too!”
  13. “but again, the food is GREAT!”
  14. “Great food, Bad sitting”
  15. “Enjoyed the fresh air on the outdoor patio, little birds happily singing and hopping about.”
  16. “would highly recommend to go there for their delicious and lenghty breakfast menu.”
  17. “My friends and I were visiting from London, and overall loved the food and atmosphere.”
  18. “This cottage style restaurant has some tasty dishes.”
  19. “also love the house salad which comes with baby greens, shredded carrots, aged Parmesan cheese, candied pecans and a rich creamy vinaigrette.”
  20. “Veggie burger was the low point - too moist and falling apart, grilled cheese with tomato was a winner with the kiddie, salmon breakfast platter was again good not great, fish & chips was beautifully presented but fish was a bit mushy, chicken & waffles -”
  21. “Their food is solid - breakfast seems best to me though people swear by the tuna salad and the chocolate cupcake with white icing - but the combination of waiting in line, jockeying for a table and then waiting ages for your food to show up is maddening.”
  22. “Their brioche french toasts and salmon potato pancake stack with fresh fruits are awesomely delicious!”
  23. “was it because they were so extremely busy they didn't have time to make the food taste decent?”
  24. “However, today I went not for dessert, but for something off their rather extensive savory food menu.”
  25. “like this place because its in great neighborhood and I can eat well , good food healthy ,but also indulge in great deserts and go there after my yoga class @ Karuna ,or before meditation @ the White Lotus.”
  26. “you might get a decent table and the food might actually be good.”
  27. “The food is really not bad, but it is so outrageously crowded that the whole thing is ruined.”
  28. “So much to choose from, eggs benedict the best, veggie burger superb,BLT superb, shrimp salad,as well as most salads, great.”
  29. “You can tell that everything is fresh, well made and the flavor is amazing.”
  30. “It's a great place for friends to sit and enjoy a meal or just a cup of coffee.”
  31. “Alcove serves up big, gourmet breakfasts of original omelet combos, sweet brioche french toast and packed burritos.”
  32. “Good savory food, lackluster dessert.”
  33. “The food is fresh and comforting and great for breakfast lunh and dinner.”
  34. “come here often, not only because it's convenient since it's a walking distance, the food is great too!”
  35. “love the salads and the fruit bowl with granola is yummy.”
  36. “My absolute favorite is the Salmon Breakfast Stack with fresh berries.”
  37. “What made up for it was the dessert - we sampled the raspberry cheesecake - not too sweet & quite yummy, the strawberry shortcake was light and just right, the lemon tart with berries was delicious.”
  38. “My boyfriend and I come here a few times a month and no matter what we order, the food is always outstanding.”
  39. “The food, of course, is fantastic.”
  40. “They were accommodating, everything was ready on time, and of course, everything was spectacularly delicious.”
  41. “Romantic, cozy, blissful pastries”
  42. “Turkey burger was good, not great.”
  43. “Waiting for your drink/dessert/pastry crouched in a corner while other customers try to order their food is a hassle and seemingly something they could organize better.”
  44. “You can have you omelette with potatoes or you can have it with fresh fruit, it's your choice.”
  45. “Decent food, oppressive atmosphere”
  46. “Highly recommend the (kinda) classic eggs benedict, which has just enough hollandaise.”
  47. “The food is fresh, the prices are reasonable, and the ambience is very relaxing.”
  48. “Order the onion rings, and you'll understand why I say they are to die for.”
  49. “Great hidden find, Charming atmosphere, Delicious food,”
  50. “friendly atmosphere, super good sandwiches, and to die for cakes!”
  51. “anyway, the food at the alcove will not disappoint.”
  52. “get in line for mediocre food @ exorbitant prices”
  53. “The sandwiches are delicious and the portions are pretty big.”
  54. “Awesome food!”
  55. “The food is always fresh and delicious, the portions are huge, the staff is ridiculously friendly and helpful and the patios are great.”
  56. “am a neighborhood local and detest the overpriced, poor food and weird sense of having to tip for no service.”
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. “We love their menu and outdoor seating.”
  2. “However, today I went not for dessert, but for something off their rather extensive savory food menu.”
  3. “If you want to see their entire menu, they now have a great website up under their name - alcovecafe.”
  4. “They have a great menu selection at affordable prices.”
  5. “Also, although it's not listed on the menu, they make the best Patty Melt ever.”
  6. “would highly recommend to go there for their delicious and lenghty breakfast menu.”
  7. “They have a good variety so i can always find something i want.”
  8. “great variety of food for all types of people and the portions are very well served.”
  9. “It's hard to find a restaurant with an extensive menu and have it all be consistently delicious - but from a salmon breakfast plate, to a turkey and hummus melt, to a steak salad.”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “This is a great place to stumble out of bed to go to on a Saturday or Sunday for breakfast.”
  2. “Again, great place but I would make sure they are not extremely busy before you decide to eat there.”
  3. “guess everyone knows how great this place is.”
  4. “They have a wine and cheese store next door that makes you feel like you are in a wine country and the very open outdoor patio is a great place to catch up with friends, unwind, or have some alone time---all with a good glass of wine (or cup of latte).”
  5. “It's a great place for friends to sit and enjoy a meal or just a cup of coffee.”
  6. “Otherwise good lookin place with great outdoor seating, if you can find a seat.”
  7. “Other than that, the vibe is very relaxed, and is a great place to go with a bunch of friends for a lazy weekend breakfast.”
service
91.66999816894531% positive
  1. “am a neighborhood local and detest the overpriced, poor food and weird sense of having to tip for no service.”
  2. “The staff was very friendly, attentive and filled up our coffee mugs on every occasion.”
  3. “The staff is OVERLY FRIENDLY even first thing in the morning, polite, and very accomodating of special order requests.”
  4. “Great place to people watch”
  5. “The staff behind the count are exceptionally friendly and work hard to serve.”
  6. “And the staff is always really nice -- they know it's nuts over there -- so just have patience and breathe.”
  7. “friendly atmosphere, super good sandwiches, and to die for cakes!”
  8. “great variety of food for all types of people and the portions are very well served.”
  9. “Their food is solid - breakfast seems best to me though people swear by the tuna salad and the chocolate cupcake with white icing - but the combination of waiting in line, jockeying for a table and then waiting ages for your food to show up is maddening.”
  10. “The food is always fresh and delicious, the portions are huge, the staff is ridiculously friendly and helpful and the patios are great.”
  11. “The staff is very friendly and management is very attentive making sure their patrons are well taken care of.”
  12. “And very importantly the customers aren't pretentious and the staff is very friendly and helpful unlike some other similar outdoor cafes in the LA area.”
value
73.08000087738037% positive
  1. “They have a great menu selection at affordable prices.”
  2. “By the time I found one my overpriced omelet arrived in a pool of butter and my latte had turned cold.”
  3. “The portions are HUGE & the amount of fresh fruit you get w/the plate was overwhelming, berries literally falling off plate.”
  4. “Sure, the desserts are expensive, but it's worth the price with every rich bite!”
  5. “The sandwiches are delicious and the portions are pretty big.”
  6. “am a neighborhood local and detest the overpriced, poor food and weird sense of having to tip for no service.”
  7. “The food is fresh, the prices are reasonable, and the ambience is very relaxing.”
  8. “Expect Los Feliz prices - a sandwhich and a drink plus a counter girl tip will run you 10 - 12 bucks - but the charming cafe atmosphere and romantic patio make this an must-try lunch spot.”
  9. “great variety of food for all types of people and the portions are very well served.”
  10. “get in line for mediocre food @ exorbitant prices”
  11. “The food is always fresh and delicious, the portions are huge, the staff is ridiculously friendly and helpful and the patios are great.”
  12. “These are possibly the BEST cupcakes in Los Angeles, certainly worth the trip and price.”
  13. “great prices for what you get.”
wait time
100.0% positive
  1. “My only complaint: Everyone else knows it's great, too, so the lines can get long on the weekends at brunchtime (but usually move pretty fast).”
  2. “The restaurant was quite good, and the atmosphere was cute, though the process of waiting in line and then waiting for food was not quick.”
  3. “Food was good, but it took 45 minutes to come out.”
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

04/01/12

Wonderful Dining Expereince

by albaco

While on a trip to LA we decided to go to The Alcove for brunch. We has a wonderful experience. Sitting outside, having great food and service. The menu is extensive and the staff is friendly. I would definitely return on future trips to LA.

4 Star Rating: Recommended

01/30/12

love this place

by erikmiller82

I've been going to alcove for a while now and realized I should probably put a review about it ...

It's amazing. The place is chill, the food is good, and sitting outside at night with the heaters and having a slice of one of their delicious cakes with their peach tea is EXTRA good. lol

1 Star Rating: Poor

08/06/11

Horrible Birthday Dining Experience Please Read Entire Revie

by munichin

I always go to alcove when I want to have good food and a great experience, but I have to say on the one day I really counted on that great experience they totally failed miserable. We waited 1 hour and 30 minutes after placing our order before realizing that they had forgotten our order. We brought it to their attention and they did not apologize. When the food did come they got our orders wrong. My friend asked for a medium rare burger and they gave it to him well done. My dad asked for no tomato, but he had tomato in his order. My mom asked for dressing on the side, but the dressing was all over the food and to top it off I had a BLONDE HAIR IN MY SHRIMP SALAD!! ( my family and I all have dark hair). My friend told them his burger was not medium rare and if they could bring him another burger. They said they would get a new one out right away, but after 30 minutes of waiting we went to the front and asked why it was taking so long, the manager said that he did not authorize the waitress to make a new burger and that we would not get a new burger because too many bites were taken from the original burger. We were waiting 30 minutes for the new burger, if they did not plan on making a new one they should have let us know instead of letting us wait 30 minutes on top of the hour and a half they already made us wait for our meal. I am very disappointed in this place today is my birthday and this was my BIRTHDAY LUNCH....thanks goes out to alcove for making it the WORST birthday dining experience of my life. Plus I saw the back kitchen area and it was filthy. Food all over the floor...the health department should give them a visit.

1 Star Rating: Poor

06/19/11

Not that impressed

by llyonize

I just went for dessert and coffee, actually i ended up getting hot chocolate, which was not very good I have had better hot chocolate at the chain coffee places. My boy friend ordered a slice of chocolate cheese cake, too rich and dense for my taste, I got a lemon cupcake with vanilla frosting which was kinda dry. For a place being known as a bakery again, I have had better baked good at the chain coffee place for about half the price.

4 Star Rating: Recommended

02/26/11

Para quienes hablan espanol!

by Emilianne

Hace un mes, para la celebración de mi cumpleaños, mi hermana y mi cuñado me invitaron a comer a un lugar que está ubicado en Los Angeles, en el área de Los Feliz. Al llegar allí, pudimos ver una larga fila para entrar al lugar, señal de que la comida debe ser bastante buena. Mientras esperábamos, nos pasaron unos enormes papeles con el menú del restaurante, donde un solo lado era destinado a desayunos y en el otro podíamos encontrar hamburguesas, sopas, ensaladas, sándwiches y postres. Fue muy difícil escoger algo, por dos razones. La principal era que todos teníamos muchaaa hambre y la segunda era que todas las descripciones de los platos sonaban muy apetitosas. Estuve entre una Cobb Salad y un sándwich de salmón. Al final me decanté por este ultimo.

Cuando llegamos al final de la fila, mi hermana nos aconsejó que viéramos en los escaparates los postres que allí se ofrecían y que de una vez escogiéramos el que queríamos, porque o sino, tendríamos que volver a hacer la fila para pedirlo. Y así lo hicimos, otra difícil decisión. Todo se veía exquisito! Escogí el cheesecake de limón (muy buena elección por cierto).

Llegó el momento de ubicarnos en la mesa y para completar el buen momento, nos destinaron una de las mejores ubicadas, cerca de los árboles y en una esquina. Se me olvidaba contar que el restaurante es un patio, con mesas debajo de árboles y muy bien decorado. Nos trajeron nuestros platos y fue una sorpresa mayor al ver las enormes porciones. Qué maravilla! Con el hambre que teníamos!!

Todo estaba riquísimo. Mi sándwich de salmón venia acompañado de papas fritas y ensalada. Una muy buena combinación. Hasta el té helado que me tomé estaba muy rico. Sobra decir que fue una buena experiencia y que pronto tendremos que volver. Recomiendo este lugar a cualquier persona que quiera pasar un buen momento y deleitarse con comida abundante y bien preparada. Los precios son bastante buenos también. Por lo congestionada que es esa calle, recomiendo usar el servicio de valet parking.

unacolombianaencalifornia.blogspot

The Details on Alcove Cafe & Bakery

Place Categories:

  • good savory food
  • great place
  • very friendly staff
  • overall loved oppressive atmosphere
  • nice patio
  • love alcove
  • great sandwiches
  • overpriced poor food
  • savory food menu
  • fresh fruit
  • nice chai latte
  • affordable prices
  • very cozy ambience
  • great most salads
  • great desserts
  • waffles
  • great coffee
  • terrific ambiance
  • great breakfast
  • quite good restaurant
  • delicious fig cakes
  • delicious alcove cafe
  • enjoy experience
  • huge portions
  • great neighborhood
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